Speirs on form in Argentina

CYCLING:The An Post M Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team got their season under way this week in the Vuelta de San Luis in Argentina. The squad is competing in the race to build form for targets in the spring, and has the chance to log some good competitive miles in the 2.2-ranked event.

After two days, 19-year-old Isaac Speirs is best-placed of the Irish riders. He was 100th overall heading into the 168.7km second stage from La Toma to Merlo. The actual highest of the team in the general classification is Swedish rider Viktor Folkesson, who was 70th on stage one and ended the day in the same position overall.

The mainly flat stage was won by Team CSC's Juan Jose Haedo, ahead of Maximiliano Richeze (Argentina National Team) and Gil Cordoves (Tecos Trek-Mexico). Folkesson, plus team-mates Christian Muller and Isaac Speirs, finished in the main bunch, being classified in the same time as Haedo.

The other three riders on the team all came home several minutes later. Stephen Gallagher was 3.47 back, while Mark Cassidy and Páidí O'Brien finished a further 1.01 in arrears.

In other news, it has been confirmed that four Irish cyclists/tandem duos had been awarded places in this year's Paralympic Games in Beijing.

The medal-winning achievements of the Irish squad at last November's Pan-American Championships in Colombia brought Ireland's world ranking points to the level to qualify four bikes.

The final team selection will be announced in June, but as of now the main contenders are visually impaired rider Michael Delaney/pilot David Peelo; visually impaired rider Catherine Walsh/pilot Joanna Hickey; and cerebral palsy rider Enda Smyth and arm amputee Cathal Miller.

A few places are still available for the women's training camp in Blessington this weekend. Contact Alex on 085 7399603.

FIXTURES

Saturday/Sunday: Women's training camp, Avon Ri Lakeshore Resort, Blessington.

Sunday: MTB XCO winter league round two, Castle Park, Bangor, 11.30am; Connacht MTB League final round, sign on in Cong church car park, noon.